Shifter - Infinite Transformation-Chapter 87: Dragonkin

Baph, or whatever the idiot bear demihuman’s name actually was, tried to interrupt me several times. Considering that he didn’t even have the guts to fight me, it was impressive how tough he acted the moment someone strong enough to protect him arrived.

It was impressive and all the more pathetic. So much so that it was almost amusing to watch him spout some stupid shit about a fight of honor, an agreement, and whatever he was pulling out of thin air. Pointing at Jer and the fact that he nearly lost his arm, however, made him shut up real quick–but only when the scaled giant of a demihuman stared at him, asking for an explanation.

Baph could not give a satisfactory answer.

"It happened in the heat of the moment," he said, but that was not how it looked to the spectators, which was confirmed by several Hunters and other guards. They may not consider Jer a friend, yet they did not think it was honorable to cripple him either.

"Stupid fuck." I cursed Baph, which earned me a glare as well. The monstrous demihuman’s glare carried some weight to it. It was a burden, yet it was nowhere near as troublesome as the Nature Dragon mother’s presence had been. I looked him straight in the brown eyes and pointed back to a writhing figure nobody bothered to tend to.

"Someone should take care of that kitten as well. I didn’t get a System message saying that I killed him, but he might be a bit...flattened." I grunted, not sure if I was happy that he was still alive or if I’d preferred adding a demihuman to my Accessible Shifts. "Or just let him die. For the records, his survival is no longer my issue, nor will it be my fault if your fortress’s Healers are too stupid to tend to the injured."

The demihuman glared at me again but waved for someone to take care of the feline demihuman–unfortunately.

"You must be the human Fern and Clove of the Eserian Grove that were mentioned." He grunted. "Your prowess is as impressive as they say. And as long as you spoke the truth, I believe you are to be thanked. Not only did you protect a friend, you stopped a pathetic excuse of what should have been an honorable fight."

He stared at Baph and the two other demihumans, even though they had yet to regain consciousness, with disappointment. "Others will be interrogated, and if I find out that the human’s tale is true, just punishment will be served."

He shook his head. "This generation has gone soft. Jealousy has never run this deep in our blood."

"My name is Gareus from House Gaia." He introduced himself, reaching out with his massive paw. "Your name is Xavier, right? And you are the one who found the you-know-what."

The dungeon entrance? I did not think there was a need to hide its existence, but the way Gareus stared at me said otherwise.

"I’m Xavier, yes, and I did find it." My Insignia glowed, and the Trickster Demon peeled off again. I didn’t even know he’d returned to the Insignia of Dominance, but it certainly caught Gareus Gaia’s attention.

"You...have demon blood running through your veins?" He narrowed his eyes at me, and I could see a glimpse of hostility hidden deep beneath an ocean of calm. "I don’t smell that. There is no corruption on you either. Where did you get the demon from? You even forced it into submission. How did you do that? Demons do not follow creatures of other realms. They only submit to full-fledged demons."

His questions caught me by surprise. I was fairly sure there was some talk left to be done. I wanted Baph and the others to be punished for hurting Jer, but Gareus didn’t look like he couldn’t care less about the commotion–especially after seeing my Insignia.

"I am human. There’s no demon blood in me." I tried to explain. There couldn’t be any demon blood in me. If so, my family would be as well, and there was certainly nothing demonic about them.

In the first place, I only managed to hatch the Trickster Demon because Shift activated and partially shifted my hand. At that time, I didn’t think much about it, but now...

Shift transformed my hand partially into that of a demon to help the Trickster Demon be born. Is that it?

That...did not sound all that stupid. Maybe Shift did do that. And maybe that was how the Insignia was born.

"How about we talk more in the mansion? In a more...private setting?" Gareus Gaia asked, only for a familiar elf to step forward.

"I apologize for interrupting, but this gentleman has yet to finish his business with the Huntrice." The elven receptionist bowed deeply, the smile on his lips wide and clearly a charade.

"I think that can wait." Gareus grunted, but the elf shook his head.

"Unfortunately, it cannot wait, My Lord. This gentleman has to sign off on his Rank advancement and a valuable transaction."

Gareus of House Gaia and the elf stared at each other for a long while, and, to my greatest surprise, it was the former who caved in.

"Fine. Take him. But be quick."

"Of course, My Lord." The elf bowed again and departed for the Huntrice.

I stood there, looking around until my eyes met Fern’s. She tried to smile but let out a heavy sigh instead.

’You are such a troublemaker.’ Her eyes seemed to scream, yet I felt like adding ’But I love you for that.’

That sounded much better. In love with a troublemaker. Not too bad, right?

Anyway, I had a ’major’ deal to sign and a Rank advancement. The latter was not all that unexpected. Not after everyone saw me fight the three demihumans. I half-expected to end up in a lot of trouble, while the other half turned out to be right.

I gained something. Not personal power, but something equally powerful.

Honor and respect.